"Today, we finish a journey full of self-discovery, adventure, and personal growth, only to begin a new one as we head back home. All of us today have had tremendous experiences this year, full of joy and excitement, as well as disappointment and hardships.
But what matters, ladies and gentlemen, is that we are here! We have allowed ourselves to leave our loved ones and come to the United States to present our cultures and our countries, and we have succeeded.
Whether you were placed in a town of 200 or 2 million, in the north or south, in a small or big school, every one of us has had a unique experience that will influence the rest of our lives."
Yassine's voice boomed through the cheering crowd of 250 graduating Youth Exchange and Study (YES) students at the US Capitol in the historic Kennedy Caucus Room at the United States Senate.
For the past ten months, 850 YES students have lived with host families in 570 communities across the US They have attended local high schools, volunteered in their communities, and tried everything from playing American football to eating pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. And, although they arrived here as foreigners, they left their host families and communities this June as cherished family members and friends.
The Capitol Hill reception for the graduating exchange students, was kicked off with a warm welcome from US Senator Richard Lugar (Ret., Ind.), co-founder of the YES program. Afterward, three students shared highlights from their year, lessons learned, and new goals: Esther Bila from Nigeria; Sumbul Ali from Pakistan; and Yassine Jaziri from Tunisia.
Esther spoke of the support she received from her US host school's guidance counselor after Boko Haram attacked her high school in Nigeria. By encouraging Esther to get involved in extracurricular activities, like track, concert choir, and the science club, she was able to focus on positive experiences, make new friends, and feel closer to her host community.
Sumbul from Pakistan loved having the chance not only to learn about the US from her host family, but also to teach them about Pakistan. "It has been a two-way exchange," Sumbul said. "Teaching my host mom how to speak Urdu and hearing her say Assalamualaikum, the greeting in our language, felt like I had a home away from home."
Yassine from Tunisia poignantly reflected on how meaningful an exchange year can be and congratulated everyone on the accomplishment of graduating as a YES alumni.
In a separate end-of-year reception, the US Department of State welcomed an additional 500 YES students. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Evan Ryan led the celebration by facilitating a dialogue between the YES students and three special guests: White House Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough; Special Representative to Muslim Communities, Shaarik Zafar; and American actor, producer, and civil servant, Kal Penn. The students were excited to share their experiences in the US with the guests and were even more excited to have the opportunity to ask questions.
About the YES Program
The YES program is funded through the US Department of State to provide scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend one academic year in the US Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures. Learn more about the YES Program.
This article was originally published by the YES Program.